‘Jack’s Law’: Medical Marijuana In Schools Bill Signed By Governor

DENVER (CBS4)– Schools in Colorado will be required to allow medical marijuana after Gov. John Hickenlooper signed “Jack’s Law” on Monday.

The law allows marijuana in schools for medical use with strict conditions.

Jack Splitt loves school so when his school confiscated the only medicine that treats his debilitating muscle spasms by stating “cannabis is a controlled substance,” Jack and his mom Stacey Linn took their fight to the state Capitol.

Last year, they helped pass a law that allows caregivers to administer cannabis at school to children who need it.

Rep. Jonathan Singer carried the legislation and thought the problem was solved. But schools found a loophole in the process.

“Kids don’t have the benefit of time when they’re sick and when they need to go to school, we need to do everything we can to make sure we provide everything we can to provide reasonable accommodations,” said Singer, a Democrat representing Longmont.

So Singer introduced another bill in this year’s legislative session that made it clear the treatment wasn’t an option for students.

Gov. John Hickenlooper signs the medical marijuana in schools bill into law (credit: CBS)

Jack and his mom came back to testify before lawmakers again.

“These kids don’t have a lot of the things that normal kids have and one of the things that they have is school. And medical marijuana allows them to go to school in a way that they’ve never been able to before,” said Jack’s mother Stacey Linn. “This is what works, this is what they need to go to school and be kids.”

Lawmakers were not only receptive to their plea for help, Republicans and Democrats on a Senate committee stood in honor of the courage of the families.

Amber Wann and her son Benjamin, who takes hemp oil for seizures, also testified. Benjamin’s school called Child Protective Services about the hemp oil. Now the school district is writing a policy named after Benjamin.

“They’re expecting that to be implemented by this upcoming school year,” said Wann.

“What really passed this bill were the kids and parents who showed up to speak truth to powerlessness in this time,” said Singer.